Legalities in performing music

[quaizywabbit]

legally, what you 've described DOES require liscencing or royalties to be paid to someone. However, Seldom does this occur in a small to virtually"nil" venue where the fees that could possibly be generated don't equal that of the cost of a postage stamp.

They're after big fishMOST of the time. Usually you're worries come from your local competition stooping to snitch on you for doing the same things they themselves do.

Those who play by the rules, buy each and every cdg, get permissions from copyright owners, pay the royalty fees, sooner or later(usually later) end up sticking around because they didn't have to pay enormous fines from having "burns" in thier systems,
those who do get caught usually are quite arrogant in how proliferated thier collection is with "burns", some have entire collections that didn't cost them a "dime". If and when they're caught, they're out of business, period. Karaoke just doesn't pay enough to risk all of this.

To be safe, contact BMI or ASCAP, and/or each karaoke mfr. to find out about liscencing and royalty fees.
It's worth taking the extra step to know you're covered.